Before Joining a Poker Site
If you are new to playing online poker, there are a few important things you should know to make your new experience a fun and safe one. First of all, do your homework about all the different poker sites you can join. Don’t just sign up to the first one you come across. It’s a good idea to check out the free message boards where other players communicate, share news and just generally chat about the game. Therefore, you can learn things and even ask questions, all to help you improve your game and win!
There are so many different UK poker sites to choose from, how do you know which ones can be trusted? Well, in order to answer that question you would have to do some research on each of the sites you found to be good. For example, take three sites you are considering and look up info on them, ask other players if they know of this site and take their feedback into consideration. Also, keep a look out for the UK online poker sites that advertise on big gambling directories - these are the ones you want to look into joining. If they can afford to do advertising like this, then it is probably a reliable site. You can also look up reviews to check how good a poker site is.
It is not only the poker site itself you have to be aware of, but also the other players. They might not be who they say they are, so never “lend” money or chips to anyone you don’t know very well. One of the reputable operators of the online poker site will check information with all of the players and if they find someone suspicious at all, they will look into the matter further and deal with it accordingly. When you join a site, do not give them any of your information or bank details until you have checked a few things. Take note of the following;
Their IGC membership number
Their software provider
The location of the website’s licence
Player support details
Their e-cash provider
Their payouts auditor
Also, try playing small amounts before you go big. Think of it like a test run, and if it all works out then you can play as much as you want after that.
The online poker site should also offer 24 hour email and telephone assistance, should you come across a problem while playing. If the site does not offer this, go to the next one. All sites that are fair and legitimate will offer 24 hour customer service. You can even test their response time if you wish to do so; email the customer support with a question you already know the answer to and if they do not reply within 24 hours, move on to the next site. There may also be a physical address to be found on the UK online poker website. This will make you feel a whole lot more secure if you can find one of these.
If you find an online poker website that can provide you with all of the above mentioned information, go ahead and get gambling!
